Pat Martin on Asbestos

Mr. Speaker, asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known. In fact, more Canadians now die from asbestos disease than all other occupational industrial diseases combined, yet Canada remains one of the largest exporters and producers of asbestos in the world.

Asbestos is not only not banned in Canada, we actively promote it and subsidize its manufacture and export. I call it corporate welfare for corporate serial killers.

Without exaggeration, we are exporting human misery on a monumental scale. We are exporting a made in Canada epidemic and sending it into third world and underdeveloped nations.

Today we are joined by two representatives, Omana George of India and Kazumi Yoshizaki of Japan, who are both here to urge Canada to stop this irrational affinity for asbestos, stop promoting and subsidizing asbestos, and stop the export of asbestos.